Particular characteristics are protected against discrimination under both and federal laws in Allegheny County and other communities of Pennsylvania. Depending on what type of trait prompted the discriminatory treatment, government employers and even private organizations in Allegheny County can be held liable under various state and federal laws.

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

Employment discrimination occurs if an employer treats you wrongly because of your membership in a legally protected category. Employers are prohibited from using particular traits to evaluate you such as national origin, religion, race, age, familial status, or gender. In order for a claim of employment discrimination to be proven, an Allegheny County, Pennsylvania plaintiff must show that his (or her) employer actively intended to treat him differently because of his protected status.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in Pennsylvania?

This may be proved when there is a history of the employer treating members of the class similarly, or if witnesses testify about the employer's statements which would constitute bias as understood by a reasonable person. Additionally, employers are in clear violation of the law when they fire someone or retaliate against them because they filed a discrimination lawsuit.

Procedures for pursuing an employment discrimination claim are complicated, because they involve filing the claim with the corresponding agency. An attorney in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania can assist you in filing on time, as well as pursuing other remedies that are available to you while your claim is pending.